Matt Centrowitz, couldn’t be happier. After all, his 3:36.08 showing at the World Championships earlier this month was good for third place and a bronze medal.

Centrowitz became the first American (not including Bernard Lagat) to win a medal in the event since Jim Spivey did it back in 1987.

“It was very exciting,” Centrowitz said. “I couldn’t have written it any better. Everything went according to plan.”

Though he described his medal-winning race as “perfect”, Centrowitz admits he wasn’t that surprised about it. “Once I made the final I had the goal of winning a medal and that was what I had dreamed about. My coaches and I knew I was capable of winning a medal.”

Centrowitz, who runs for the University of Oregon, has been on a tear lately. Earlier this spring, he picked up his seventh All-American honor when he won the 1,500m final at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He then won the title at the U.S. Outdoor Championships, becoming the first undergrad to win a national title since Steve Prefontaine did it in 1971.